The Effects of Gender Stereotypes and Types of Crime on Perceptions of Responsibility, Sentencing Severity, and Likelihood of Recidivism

Past research has produced mixed findings regarding the roles of gender stereotypes in criminal sentencing. Usually, women receive preferential treatment; however, studies have shown that women receive harsher sentencing than men under certain circumstances. In light of these findings, we argued that the Chivalry and Paternalism thesis shows how women are exempted from harsh punishment when their crimes align with negative gender stereotypes, resulting in lenient treatment most of the time. Additionally, we argued that women receive harsher sentencing when their crimes violate positive gender stereotypes while men receive harsher sentencing when their crimes 1) violate positive gender stereotypes or 2) align with negative ones. To evaluate this theory, we examined how gender stereotypes and type of crime affected perceptions of responsibility, sentencing severity, and likelihood of recidivism. Using a 2 x 3 mixed factorial design, we manipulated two independent variables: gender of perpetrator and type of crime. To measure the effects of these manipulations, we used three dependent variables: (a) perpetrator responsibility (b) sentencing severity and (c) likelihood of recidivism. One hundred and eleven participants (61 women, 49 men, and 1 non-binary) were randomly assigned to 3 of 6 conditions. Additionally, a gender stereotype endorsement score was included to reveal each participant’s endorsement of gender stereotypes. Results showed that perpetrator gender had no significant effect on responsibility, sentencing severity, or likelihood of recidivism and that gender stereotype endorsement was an insignificant covariate. Based on these findings, perhaps gender stereotypes do not play a significant role in sentencing

Sugarbush management impacts on forest structure and bird communities in Vermont.

During 2020 and 2021 we conducted field surveys of breeding birds, foliage- and litter-dwelling arthropods, and vegetation metrics at 14 active sugarbushes (seven in each year), representing a gradient of sugaring production and management intensities, to determine the most biologically significant habitat covariates that explain variation in forest bird occupancy and abundance across sites. Additionally, in 2021 we sampled native bees at seven sugarbushes.</p

Glutathione Depletion and Disruption of Intracellular Ionic Homeostasis Regulate Lymphoid Cell Apoptosis*

Intracellular glutathione (GSH) depletion is an important hallmark of apoptosis. We have recently shown that GSH depletion by its extrusion regulates apoptosis independently of excessive reactive oxygen species accumulation. However, the mechanisms by which GSH depletion regulates apoptosis are still unclear. Because disruption of intracellular ionic homeostasis, associated with apoptotic volume decrease (AVD), is necessary for the progression of apoptotic cell death, we sought to evaluate the relationship between GSH transport and ionic homeostasis during Fas ligand (FasL)-induced apoptosis in Jurkat cells. GSH depletion in response to FasL was paralleled by distinct degrees of AVD identified by differences in cellular forward scatter and electronic impedance analysis. Inhibition of GSH efflux prevented AVD, K+ loss, and the activation of two distinct ionic conductances, mediated by Kv1.3 and outward rectifying Cl– channels. Reciprocally, stimulation of GSH loss accelerated the loss of K+, AVD, and consequently the progression of the execution phase of apoptosis. Although high extracellular K+ inhibited FasL-induced apoptosis, GSH depletion was largely independent of K+ loss. These results suggest that deregulation of GSH and ionic homeostasis converge in the regulation of apoptosis in lymphoid cells